Threat to police officer nets 10-year sentence

A 26-year-old Lubbock man was sentenced to 10 years' probation Monday in exchange for admitting that he threatened to kill a Lubbock police officer.

Michael Steven Garcia was being investigated for assaulting his live-in girlfriend in July 1996 when he threatened to murder the officer on duty, police records show.

Garcia has no prior felony record, prosecutors said.

While in the 72nd District Court, he also pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault.

In exchange for that plea, he was given 10 years' deferred adjudication. If he violates terms of his deferred adjudication, Garcia is eligible for the full range of punishment on the aggravated assault charge, which carries a prison term of two to 20 years, prosecutors said.